My reading material has always been reasonably eclectic. Over this last week I completed reading Les Carlyon's work 'Gallipoli', an extensive and almost lyrical piece of historical writing which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I picked up a 2010 collection of poems by NZ'er Brian Turner (some beautiful work), and began reading that, and also looked around for another 'what next'. My eyes settled on this:
It's one of the few books from my childhood that I had chosen to keep. It was a Christmas gift from my parents (oops .. I mean, from Santa, of course), and I may have been around 10 years old ('ish) when I received it. I recall reading it numerous times as a youngster, and being inspired by it every time. Opening the pages and beginning this re-reading was much like meeting up once more with a long time friend with whom you hadn't met face to face for many years.
W.E. Johns has a lot to answer for, in my case. His inspiration went on to inspire a life long interest in World War 1, especially at a time when amongst our wargames colleagues it was definitely 'persona non grata', and also a lifelong fascination with WW1 aviation. I would read endlessly about WW1 aircraft, model them in plastic, and be attracted in some way shape or form with how to how to 'game aerial combat.
My parents were reasonably pacifist in their leanings, and I have often wondered if they realised how they were indirectly responsible for my interest in military history, an unintended consequence of their thoughtful gift-giving. My father was an avid model maker, although in wood and metal, not plastic, and his work also inspired the model maker in me.
More generally I find it fascinating to ponder where our inspiration comes from for our human interests in general, and our specific military/'gaming interests specifically. Something just fires in our imagination, doesn't it. To my parents, I have much to be grateful for.
